Coach Hire to Stonehenge Of all the fascinating and historical sites in the United Kingdom, Stonehenge is perhaps the most well known. Stonehenge, a UNESCO, World Heritage Site is considered by many to be the most important prehistoric monument in the whole of Britain. This ancient circle of large standing stones is situated in an area of England that contains a number of other Stone and Bronze Age monuments. Located in the county of Wiltshire, Stonehenge is easily accessible by way of coach hire from just about anywhere in the United Kingdom. Stonehenge today is the final stage of a three phase construction process that began some 5,000 years ago. From start to finish, the stone monument is estimated to have taken over thirty million man hours of labour to complete! Which must surely make it one of the great engineering marvels of the stone and Bronze Age world? The earliest stages of the Stonehenge monument dates back to around 3100 BC, when a large circular earthwork surrounded by a bank, or ‘Henge’ was formed. Inside the enclosure, postholes suggest that some form of timber structures were built within the earthwork. This has led archeologists to surmise that the monument initially served as a simple burial ground which then evolved into an enclosed cremation cemetery. At the time of the middle phase, roughly 2600 BC, the builders of Stonehenge abandoned timber and began to use stone. Some eighty-two smaller bluestones, weighing a mere four tonnes each, were brought to, and erected at the site. Beginning in 2400 BC, major changes took place at Stonehenge, as thirty enormous Sarsen stones, weighing approximately twenty-five to fifty tonnes each were arranged in an outer circle with lintels. Inside the outer circle, five stone ‘trilithons’ were arranged in the shape of a horseshoe. Sometime after 1500 BC the stones were rearranged into what can be seen today. There has and always will be much speculation as to the reasons why Stonehenge was built. These theories range from such things as human sacrifice to lunar and solar worship. Archaeologists believe that Stonehenge attracted worshipers from the earliest of times, and although it is difficult to know for certain what mode of transportation was utilized by ancient travellers, today, those of us who wish to make the pilgrimage by coach hire, will find that this form of modern conveyance allows visitors to reach this timeless monument feeling relaxed, rested and carefree. Find the best coach hire to stonehenge here http://www.coachhire.com/
|
||||
